This has to be a first in American politics: a candidate who vows to leave his party, if need be, even before the elections!

According to the NY Post, Simcha Felder, Democratic challenger in the New York State Senate for the 17th Senate District (including parts of Borough Park, Flatbush, Midwood, Kensington and Sunset Park), says he will caucus with the Republicans and vote for Republican Dean Skelos as Senate majority leader.

Felder, whose late father Rabbi Harry Felder was spiritual leader of Beth Aaron Congregation in Borough Park, was adamant on his promise that “I said I would caucus with any party that will allow me to deliver the most to the 17th Senate district and its constituents.”

Republican David Storobin squeaked by Democrat Lew Fidler in a special election to replace former Senator Carl Kruger (D), who was convicted of bribery.

Felder, running against incumbent Republican State Senator David Storobin, is also deputy comptroller for budget and accounting of the City of New York (appointed by Comptroller John Liu).

About the Author:Yori Yanover has been a working journalist since age 17, before he enlisted and worked for Ba'Machane Nachal. Since then he has worked for Israel Shelanu, the US supplement of Yedioth, JCN18.com, USAJewish.com, Lubavitch News Service, Arutz 7 (as DJ on the high seas), and the Grand Street News. He has published Dancing and Crying, a colorful and intimate portrait of the last two years in the life of the late Lubavitch Rebbe, (in Hebrew), and
two fun books in English: The Cabalist's Daughter: A Novel of Practical Messianic Redemption, and How Would God REALLY Vote.

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Imported and Older Comments:

"This has to be a first in American politics: a candidate who vows to leave his party, if need be, even before the elections!"

He isn't leaving the party, he is caucusing with the Republicans. And this is not exactly a first. Then Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. of the Bronx did the same thing while running for re-election in 2002. He lost. Then the late Sen. Olga Mendez, representing East Harlem and the South Bronx, tried the same thing in 2004, and also lost.

Basically, Felder is saying that the party that gives him the most member items will have his vote in organizing the Assembly. He is not "vowing," but he is putting everyone on notice that his vote for organizing the lower house is for sale.

Basically, Felder is saying that the party that gives him the most member items will have his vote in organizing the Assembly. He is not "vowing," but he is putting everyone on notice that his vote for organizing the lower house is for sale.

Looks like this strategy didn't work. Democrats appear to have flipped three State Senate seats to win a majority in the chamber, despite a very partisan gerrymander. One is self-inflicted, as Sen. Steve Saland appears to have been targeted by his own party for supporting same sex marriage. If the Democrats manage to unite to organize the chamber, Felder will have no influence as a Republican.

OTOH, the Democrats are badly split and more than Felder may vote for Republican organization in the Senate. More will be revealed.

“This has to be a first in American politics: a candidate who vows to leave his party, if need be, even before the elections!”

He isn’t leaving the party, he is caucusing with the Republicans. And this is not exactly a first. Then Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. of the Bronx did the same thing while running for re-election in 2002. He lost. Then the late Sen. Olga Mendez, representing East Harlem and the South Bronx, tried the same thing in 2004, and also lost.

“This has to be a first in American politics: a candidate who vows to leave his party, if need be, even before the elections!”

He isn’t leaving the party, he is caucusing with the Republicans. And this is not exactly a first. Then Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. of the Bronx did the same thing while running for re-election in 2002. He lost. Then the late Sen. Olga Mendez, representing East Harlem and the South Bronx, tried the same thing in 2004, and also lost.

Looks like this strategy didn’t work. Democrats appear to have flipped three State Senate seats to win a majority in the chamber, despite a very partisan gerrymander. One is self-inflicted, as Sen. Steve Saland appears to have been targeted by his own party for supporting same sex marriage. If the Democrats manage to unite to organize the chamber, Felder will have no influence as a Republican.

OTOH, the Democrats are badly split and more than Felder may vote for Republican organization in the Senate. More will be revealed.

Looks like this strategy didn’t work. Democrats appear to have flipped three State Senate seats to win a majority in the chamber, despite a very partisan gerrymander. One is self-inflicted, as Sen. Steve Saland appears to have been targeted by his own party for supporting same sex marriage. If the Democrats manage to unite to organize the chamber, Felder will have no influence as a Republican.

OTOH, the Democrats are badly split and more than Felder may vote for Republican organization in the Senate. More will be revealed.

Basically, Felder is saying that the party that gives him the most member items will have his vote in organizing the Assembly. He is not “vowing,” but he is putting everyone on notice that his vote for organizing the lower house is for sale.

Basically, Felder is saying that the party that gives him the most member items will have his vote in organizing the Assembly. He is not “vowing,” but he is putting everyone on notice that his vote for organizing the lower house is for sale.